MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, WRITINGS, AND CORRESPONDENCE, OF SIR WILLIAM JONES. SIR WILLIAM JONES embarked for India in the Crocodile frigate; and in April 1783, left his native country, to which he was never to return, with the unavailing regret and affectionate wishes of his numerous friends and admirers. As to himself, the melancholy impreffions which he could not but feel on fuch an occafion, were alleviated by various confiderations. The expectations of five years were now accomplished in the attainment of his wishes; he anticipated the utility of his official labours to the public, and the occupation Life-V. II. B T Sir fo peculiarly delightful to him, of investigating unexplored mines of literature. William Jones was now in his thirty-seventh year, in the full vigour of his faculties, and he looked forward with ardour to the pleafures and advantages arifing from his fituation in India, without any apprehenfion that the climate of that country would prove hoftile to his conftitution. A difference of opinion on great political queftions, without diminishing his regard for his friends, had narrowed his habits of intercourse with fome whom he fincerely esteemed, and he felt therefore the lefs regret in quitting those whose principles he wished to approve, but from whom, an adherence to his own frequently compelled him to diffent. He reflected with pleafure on the independency of his ftation, that the line of duty, which it prescribed, was ftrait and defined, and in leaving his native country, for which he retained the warmest affection, he was not forry to abandon all political cares and difcuffions. But his greatest confolation and enjoyment were derived from the fociety of Lady Jones. To those who are deftitute of internal refources, whofe habits have led them to feek for amusement in the mifcellaneous occurrences and topics of the day only, a fea voyage is a period of fatigue, languor, and anxiety. To Sir William Jones every new scene was interefting, and his mind, exercifed by inceffant study and reflection, poffeffed an inexhauftible fund of subjects; which he could at pleasure select and apply to the purposes of recreation and improvement, but his application during his voyage was more particularly directed to those studies, by which he was to enlarge the requifite qualifications for discharging the duties of his public ftation, with fatisfaction to himself, and benefit to the community*. *The following memorandum was written by Sir William Jones during his voyage. Objects of Enquiry during my residence in Asia. 1. The Laws of the Hindus and Mohammedans. 2. The History of the Ancient World. 3. Proofs and Illustrations of Scripture. 4. Traditions concerning the Deluge, &c. 5. Modern Politics and Geography of Hindustan. 6. Best Mode of governing Bengal. The following fhort letter to Lord Afhburton, written a few weeks after his em7. Arithmetic and Geometry, and mixed Sciences of the Asiatics. 8. Medicine, Chemistry, Surgery, and Anatomy of the Indians. 9. Natural Productions of India. 10. Poetry, Rhetoric, and Morality of Asia. 11. Music of the Eastern Nations. 12. The Shi-King, or 300 Chinese Odes. 13. The best accounts of Tibet and Cashmir.: 14. Trade, Manufactures, Agriculture, and Commerce of India. 15. Mogul Constitution, contained in the Defteri Alemghiri, and Ayein Acbari. 16. Mahratta Constitution. To print and publish the Gospel of St. Luke in Arabic. To publish Law Tracts in Persian or Arabic. To compose, if God grant me Life, 1. Elements of the Laws of England. Model The Essay on Bailment-Aristotle. 2. The History of the American War. Model Thucydides and Polybius. 3. Britain discovered, an Heroic Poem on the Constitution of England. Machinery. Hindu Gods Model Homer. 4. Speeches, Political and Forensic. Model-Demosthenes. 5. Dialogues, Philosophical and Historical. 6. Letters. Model-Plato. Model-Demosthenes and Plato. 12th July, 1783. Crocodile Frigate. |